Edson Barboza

 ( Living People ) 

Barboza's professional MMA career began in April 2009 in Tampa, Florida, with a victory over Aaron Steadman via TKO in the first round. In his next fight, in the Renaissance MMA promotion, Barboza defeated Lee King via second-round KO, winning the lightweight title. Barboza defended the belt, also against King, later that year, winning via submission in the first round.

After a second successful title defense in Renaissance MMA, Barboza challenged for the Ring of Combat lightweight belt against Marcelo Guidici. He won the fight via TKO due to leg kicks in the first round.

Barboza's first title defense was originally scheduled for Ring of Combat 31, against Mikhail Malyutin, but, due to his signing with the UFC, he was replaced by Luiz Azeredo.

Barboza defeated Ross Pearson at UFC 134 via split decision. Both fighters earned Fight of the Night bonus honors.

Barboza was expected to face Evan Dunham on May 26, 2012, at UFC 146, but Dunham dropped out of the bout due to injury and was replaced by returning veteran Jamie Varner. Barboza suffered his first professional MMA loss via Knockout in the first round.

Barboza was scheduled to face John Makdessi on July 6, 2013, at UFC 162, but an injury forced Makdessi off the card and he was replaced by Rafaello Oliveira. Barboza won the fight by TKO due to leg kicks in the second round.

Barboza faced Danny Castillo on December 14, 2013, at UFC on Fox 9. After a dominant first round by Castillo, in which he nearly finished Barboza via strikes and then with a submission attempt, Barboza rallied back and won by majority decision. Both fighters earned Fight of the Night honors.

Barboza faced Evan Dunham on July 16, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 45. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Barboza faced Bobby Green on November 22, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 57. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Barboza was expected to face Myles Jury on July 25, 2015, at UFC on Fox 16, replacing an injured Anthony Pettis. However, Jury himself had to pull out due to injury and was subsequently replaced by undefeated Paul Felder. Barboza won the fight via unanimous decision and earned his fifth Fight of the Night bonus award. UFC President Dana White gave Barboza and Felder high praise afterwards, calling the fight "incredible."

Barboza faced Tony Ferguson on December 11, 2015, at , replacing an injured Khabib Nurmagomedov. After a back-and-forth first round that saw Ferguson docked one point due to an illegal upkick, Barboza lost the fight via submission in the second round. Both fighters earned Fight of the Night honors.

Barboza faced Gilbert Melendez on July 23, 2016, at UFC on Fox 20. He won via unanimous decision.

Barboza faced Khabib Nurmagomedov on December 30, 2017, at UFC 219. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

After losing two consecutive fights, Barboza decided to return to Florida and American Top Team.

Barboza faced Dan Hooker on December 15, 2018, at UFC on Fox 31. He won the fight via TKO in round three.

Barboza faced Paul Felder in a rematch on September 7, 2019, at UFC 242. He lost the fight by a controversial split decision. 13 out of 16 MMA media outlets scored the bout in favor of Barboza, and subsequently the decision was appealed to be overturned. UFC, working in lieu of an athletic commission, denied the appeal.

Barboza was expected to face Sodiq Yusuff on October 11, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 179. However, Yusuff pulled out of the fight on September 22 for undisclosed reasons, and was replaced by Makwan Amirkhani. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Barboza faced Shane Burgos on May 15, 2021, at UFC 262. He won the fight via knockout in the third round after Burgos experienced a delayed reaction to being knocked out with a right cross. This fight earned Barboza the $75,000 Fight of the Night bonus award.

Barboza faced Giga Chikadze on August 28, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 30. After a back-and-forth affair, Barboza lost the fight via TKO in round three.

Barboza was scheduled to face Ilia Topuria on October 29, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 213. However, Barboza withdrew in late September due to a knee injury

Barboza faced Sodiq Yusuff on October 14, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 230. After nearly being finished with punches in the first round, Barboza rallied and won the fight by unanimous decision. This performance earned him his ninth Fight of the Night award.

Barboza is scheduled to face Drakkar Klose in a lightweight bout on August 16, 2025 at UFC 319.